Also, what are some ways a newbie can get a leg up on the competition?

Have ever heard of concentrated orange cleaner deodorizer or heavy duty concentrated citrus degreaser cleaner?

Sometimes it is difficult, but the closer to can get to comparing "apples to apples", instead of "apples to oranges", the better off you will be.

I had a conversation with a financier yesterday who told me these two factors give me a leg up over other flippers, and I could learn from the agent and contractor. 

I'm looking for recommendations for local CPAs that don't charge an arm and a leg, and focus on real estate rentals.      

I am in the Orange County area and was looking to see who i can go to to have this contract revised to see if it is okay in my area before i start jumping into wholesaling properties??

Comparing, as you suggest, when an IRA would be the right tool to use relative to a personal investment in real estate is comparing apples and oranges.  

I was just at a live foreclosure auction at the city hall steps in Orange, CA.

We found that we could, however, get decent (but not great - we're in Orange County after all) cash flow if we bought a local multifamily.

Im right around the corner on Orange between Harding and 61st.